LOWELL Desidero N. ‘Desi’ Meneses, 80, of Lowell, died Thursday, November 17, 2011, at Saints Medical Center after a long illness. He was the husband of Maria Norma (Oliviera) Meneses with whom he celebrated Fifty Five Years of Marriage this past September.

A son of the late Francisco N. and the late Rosa L. (Meneses) DaRocha, he was born March 6, 1931, in Terciera, Azores, Portugal, and grew up and was educated in Terceira. He served with the Portuguese Military for two years, and worked at the United States Army base in Terceira. In 1969, he moved to the United States with his family, settling in Lowell.

A communicant of St. Anthony’s Church, he was also a member of Trindade. He worked as a machine operator for Madisson Wire Company in Clinton for many years before his retirement. Spending time with his family was his favorite pasttime. He also enjoyed gardening and making wine.

In addition to his wife, Maria Norma, he is survived by his children, Flavio Meneses and his wife, Alexandra, of Lowell, Filomena Lima and her husband, Ivo, of Lowell, and Jorge Meneses and his wife, Maya, of Tyngsboro; his grandchildren, Brian Lima, Flavio Meneses, Josianna Meneses, Jessica Meneses, Jefferson Meneses, Luis Meneses, Sophia Meneses, and Marcus Meneses; a great grand daughter, Brianna; his brother Salvador N. Meneses of Lowell his sisters in law, Izilda Rego of Lowell, and Inocencia Cardoso and her husband, John, of Lowell; and many nieces and nephews.

He was also the father of the late Fatima Lourdes Meneses, and brother of the late Maria Meneses Pereira, the late Joao Numes Meneses, the late Francisco Nunes DaRocha, the late Alcina N. Viera, and the late Manuel Meneses, and was the best friend of the late Jose Batista Rego.

YOU ARE INVITED TO HIS CALLING HOURS 4 UNTIL 8 P.M. ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20. ON MONDAY, HIS FUNERAL WILL BEGIN AT 9 A.M. AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL 978-458-6816. HIS FUNERAL MASS WILL BE OFFERED AT ST. ANTHONY’S CHURCH AT 10 A.M.. BURIAL IN ST. JOSEPH CEMETERY. E-CONDOLENCE SITE WWW.MCDONOUGHFUNERALHOME.COM